Music: Jazz band Bad Plus to perform at Berklee

Time usually means change and evolution for all long-running musical groups, and starting in 2018, one of the most popular jazz trios of the past 20 years will change – seismically.

The Bad Plus, beloved since 2000 for its adventurous take on piano-trio jazz that often dovetails into inspired deconstructions of well-known pop and rock covers, will alter its lineup, subtracting pianist Ethan Iverson and adding pianist Orrin Evans. Rhythm chassis Dave King (drums) and Reid Anderson (bass) will continue, and, with Philadelphia-based Evans and his reputation as a dynamo in the post-bop landscape, will have the task of preserving The Bad Plus’ vitality and passionate fanbase while moving it in a new direction.

As part of a final tour with Iverson, who will be focusing on his solo career and other pursuits in the jazz world and beyond, The Bad Plus visits Boston once more on Sunday, November 12, headlining the Berklee Performance Center.

Stylistically, Iverson and Evans are fundamentally different pianists, but Evans has been well acquainted with all three members for several years. And for The Bad Plus' founders, change – versus dissolution of a band with significant cache both within and beyond the jazz world – is something to embrace.

“There was a thought initially that we might not go on, but Dave and I just kept talking,” Anderson said in a recent interview. “We still really believe in The Bad Plus, and in what we’re doing. We really care about this band.”

The Bad Plus will finish out an aggressive year of touring with Iverson, culminating in the band’s traditional New Year’s Eve run at the Village Vanguard in New York. Then, in January, they will begin forging a new identity with Evans at the keys.

“We’ve recorded a whole new batch of music, to which Orrin has contributed a couple of songs, and have a new record ready for early next year,” Anderson said. “Beyond that, we really want Orrin to feel comfortable, and to be himself. We did give him a bunch of music to learn, and hopefully he’s not too overwhelmed by that. We’ll keep it manageable. But we love Orrin and we want him to be Orrin.”

Evans, Anderson noted, “was the only person we had in mind for this.”

“We’re full speed ahead on everything, but we also need to give Orrin a chance to get settled into the band. I think that’s only fair to him,” he said. “We’re working to establish the new dynamics of The Bad Plus, and from there we’ll start to consider again other things we want to do with the group.”